ing its ruin, shall be themselves destroyed. III. We ought to take particular notice of the reason which the prophet gives to prove that idols were not gods ; saying, that they could not foretell things to come, nor do any hurt or good to men. This consideration, which so strongly demonstrates the vanity of idols, most plainly shows, that the many prophecies we have in the Holy Scriptures, could proceed from none but God. It proves that there is a God, who knows and governs all things, and that the Holy Scriptures are true and divinely inspired. Lastly, this teaches us, that the great God, who knoweth and can do all things, is the Lord of all men, the judge of the world, and he who ought to be feared: since as he is almighty, he will exert his power for the good of those that worship him, and to punish those that rebel against him.

CHAPTER XLII.

I. Isaiah goes on to foretell the Jews' deliverance and restoration by Cyrus; but he chiefly speaks of the coming of the Messiah, to bestow his favours on the Jews, and also on the Gentiles. II. He exhorts men to praise God, and to rejoice in the happiness which they were shortly to enjoy. III. He foretells, that idolaters shall be confounded, and idolatry destroyed. IV. He complains of the blindness of the Jews; and declares, that because of their sins they should be delivered into the hands of their enemies.

Reflections.

ST. Matthew, quoting the first verses of this chapter, teaches us, that this prophecy represents the characters of the Messiah; which are, his great meekness and humility, the glory of his works, and the power wherewith he was to establish his kingdom throughout all the nations of the earth. These are so many proofs that Jesus is the true Messiah promised by the prophets, and so many inducements to us, to submit ourselves with joy to this Saviour, abounding in

power and goodness. II. Isaiah expresses the sentiments of joy and gratitude which men would be affected with, when the Saviour of the world should be manifested: which are described in these words, Sing unto the Lord a new song, and his praise from the end of the earth. Ye that go down to the sea, and all that is therein; the isles and the inhabitants thereof; let them give glory to the Lord, and declare his praise. These are the thanks we ought to render incessantly to God, upon account of the good things he has done for us in Christ Jesus; and particularly, for delivering us from the idolatry which formerly reigned in the world. III. The example of the Jews, who were exposed to desolation because of their blindness and stupidity, is a warning to us, that it is sin which exposes men to so many evils, and engages God to forsake them, when they shut their eyes against the light which enlightens them, when they are deaf to his voice, and refuse to walk in his ways, and to keep his law.

CHAPTER XLIII.

I. GOD promises to deliver his people by his infinite power, and to bring them back from their dispersion. II. He declares that he is the only true God who created all things, and who made himself known to the Jews; and that he would not fail to gather them together again. III. He complains, that that people had not served him as they ought, and threatens to chastise them; but promises, however, to be reconciled with them, and to forgive them.

Reflections.

WE see in the first part of this chapter the love of God to the Jews. That love appears in the assurances he gives them of his protection, as being their God, their Saviour, and their King; and in the promises he makes them, of delivering them from the Babylonish captivity. These promises are likewise applicable to the Christian church, and to all the truly

faithful, and are very proper to comfort and fill them with hope and joy. The second part of this chapter affords us powerful motives to fear the Lord our God; since he is the Lord, and the only true God, that has been from all times, that has made all things, that knows what is to come, and does what he pleases, so that nothing can resist him, and from his hand nothing can deliver us. God's reproaching of the Jews, for having provoked and offended him by their sacrifices, and by the service they paid him, teaches us, that all worship which consists purely of ceremonies, and of the externals of religion, is abominable to the Lord. Lastly, The promises of pardon, at the end of this chapter, show, that if God afflicts men for their correction, he is likewise always ready to show mercy to them, when they humble themselves; that it is he alone who pardons sins; and that he does it only for his own sake, and out of pure mercy.

CHAPTER XLIV.

THIS chapter contains, I. Express promises of the deliverance of the Jews, and of the favours which God would bestow upon them. II. A beautiful description of the folly of idolaters. III. An exhortation to the Jews to rejoice in the hopes that God would bring them out of captivity, and would settle them again in their own country by means of Cyrus king of Persia.

Reflections.

I. THE promises which God made to his people, to redeem them, to cause them to increase and multiply, and to bless them, began to be accomplished when he delivered the Jews from the captivity of Babylon; but they were perfectly fulfilled when God, according to his promise, sent his Son into the world to save mankind. Wherefore it is our duty to meditate upon these gracious promises with faith and gratitude; to rejoice in God, and return him thanks for

the completion of them. II. This chapter contains a description of the vanity of idols, which deserves to be read with care and attention. Isaiah represents the folly of those that worship images made of wood or other materials, and fall down before the work of their own hands, and before dead things. By which we see into what extravagances men are capable of falling, when left to themselves, and deprived of the light of the divine word; and what condition we should still be in, if we had not been delivered from idolatry, to serve the true and living God. This shows likewise with what respect and fear we ought to worship the Almighty God, who is the governor of the world, who knows all things; and as his power knows no bounds, can do good to those that reverence him, and punish those that offend him. The last verses of this chapter are remarkable: God therein promises, not only that the Jews should return from Babylon, and their city and temple be rebuilt; but he says, this should be done by means of a king named Cyrus; which accordingly came to pass about two hundred years after this prediction.

CHAPTER XLV.

In this chapter it is foretold, that there should arise a king named Cyrus, to whom God would give great power, and who should set the Jews at liberty, and send them back from Babylon into their own country. The prophet says, that God would do all this to manifest his power and love to his people; and to show, that the idols of the heathens were false gods; and that there was no other God besides the God of Israel.

Reflections.

THIS chapter contains one of the most express and most remarkable prophecies in the Old Testament. The purport of it is, that a king named Cyrus should become exceeding powerful; that God would go before him, and grant him great victories; that he would give him immense riches, and the monarchy of Asia;

and that this prince would grant the Jews leave to return to their own country, and cause them to rebuild Jerusalem, and the temple. These things were foretold two hundred years before they happened: at the end of which time Cyrus, the king of Persia, destroyed the monarchy of the Chaldeans, and published an edict in behalf of the Jews, causing them to return to their own country. These predictions, which were so exactly fulfilled, invincibly prove the divine original of the Holy Scriptures, and the truth of religion. They prove, that there is a God who knows things to come, and who presides over all events, and every thing that happens in the world. They prove, in particular, that he disposes of things which depend upon the will of man, without depriving him of his liberty; so that men, without knowing it, bring about the designs of Providence. By this the true God is distinguished from idols, as is observed several times in this and the former chapters. From the whole we must conclude, that God alone is to be feared and adored; that he disposes all things with wisdom; and that the end he proposes to himself in all his works, is to make himself known to men, and to engage them to serve and fear him. This appeared still plainer in the accomplishment of the promises made of sending Jesus Christ, and establishing his kingdom.

CHAPTER XLVI.

Isaiah foretells, that the Babylonians should be destroyed; and that it should then appear, that Bel and Nebo, which were their idols, were nothing but false gods; and that the Lord was the protector of the Jews, and the only true God. The prophet adds, that God would bring from the east a man, who should execute the designs of his Providence: by which he denotes Cyrus, who would come from Persia, to subdue the Babylonians, and set the Jews at liberty.